You've Got To Try This!

The technique is called a "paint-over" and the steps are laid out in-depth in this month's issues of Somerset Studio, Somerset Weddings and Somerset Workshop. The artist who describes it is Lisa Bebi and she is featured in a lot of art in these magazines and others put out by Stampington & Company. She also has her own gallery and blog on the web. She presents clear and easy directions and once you do one, you are hooked!

Basically you make a photocopy of either a magazine ad, a personal photo, anything you'd like to try and "paint". You can make either a black and white or a color photo. For my first try at it, I just copied it in black and white. First you paint a canvas any background color you'd like. Believe it or not, this started out as a light blue wash. I just picked up a couple of cheapie canvasses at Michael's in size 8 x 10. Then you adhere your copied image wherever you want to place it onto your (dried) painted background. You use matte medium to adhere your image and make sure all of the air bubbles are smoothed out. Then, you just go to work with your acrylic paints and paint it however you'd like. Also, she likes to use rubber stamps onto the background to give it another layer of color and interest. I found some nice swirl stamps and used paint to stamp them into the background.

I'm not painter and I admit it, so cut me some slack. But for a first-time effort it was fun! I have some ideas for further embellishing these kinds of paintings and I've already got two more colored backgrounds ready to go. Another note on the backgrounds. She recommends using a bright color (like shocking pink or turquoise) to start. Then, after you adhere your image, you'll paint over the background with Titan Buff or some other neutral color with just enough of the bright color "peeking through." This would be if you were going for a softer look than the shocking pink I used in my first one. Bridal magazines (where I found this image) are a great source, as well as your own photos.

So, for those of us who did not get formal training as artists but still like to dabble, here's a great way to flex your painting muscles. I'll have another one to show soon with a little twist of my own added. It's an experiment I want to try but if it works would add even more fun to the painting. Stay tuned...